How to master a bold lip – Mac Cosmetics

Spring’s biggest beauty statement is going to be all about a rich, vibrant lip. Whether you gravitate towards saturated brilliant reds, steamy vivid purples or dazzling bright pinks, it’s the perfect way to add some edge to any look. Sure, I’ve seen those barely there, “I woke up like this” nude makeup trends for months, but this season it’s all about being bold. What better way to add some pizzazz to your tried-and-true makeup look than with a daring and bright pop of colour on your lips? My personal favourite has always been Mac Cosmetics ‘Ruby Woo’. I’ve tried so many brands, shades, textures of red lipsticks but nothing comes close to Ruby Woo! This post is going to be all about how to achieve that perfect bold lip and a breakdown of all the Mac Cosmetics products I’ve used to create this look.

The key to achieving a bold lip, outside of the colour, is hydration. It’s incredibly important that your lips are in perfect condition before you start. Make sure to exfoliate your lips before every lipstick application. This helps to eliminate dry flakes and keep lips kissably soft. Moisturize the lips to help prevent cracking, while ensuring your lipstick colour stays in place all day. Either invest in a daily lip exfoliator or apply a little lip balm to your lips and gently rub with a clean toothbrush. This will instantly remove all dead skin and keep lips hydrated and smooth.

Lining the lips is just as important. You don’t want your bold colour bleeding or feathering outside of the line. A liner in either a clear or colour co-ordinating shade will help the lipstick shade adhere to the skin better. This also helps to prolong the wear time. Start in the centre and work your way outwards. You can also fully fill in your entire lip, so as the colour starts to fade, you won’t be left with a tell-tale ring of lipstick around your mouth.

You’re then ready to apply your lipstick. Mac Cosmetics ‘Ruby Woo’ is my perfect red. It’s saturated with intense pigments to provide a high colour impact in a single swipe. It’s extremely full-coverage and matte in texture. If you’re looking to mattify any lipstick further or even lock your lip colour in place all day, reach for a tissue. Place it directly over your mouth and dust on a thin layer of translucent powder. This will help set your lipstick and ensure it stays put all day.

Here’s a breakdown of all the Mac Products that I’ve used to create this look:

Primer –Mac Prep + Prime (Radiant Yellow)

Concealer – NC 35

Foundation –NC 37

Loose Powder –Prep + Prime Transparent

Eye Shadow –Arena

Eye Liner – Black track

Mascara –Zoom Lash

Blush – Peaches

Bronzer – Mac Bronzer

Highlighter –Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle

Lip pencil – Ruby Woo

Lipstick –Ruby Woo

Now that you’ve mastered a bold lip, don’t forget to get the rest of your face minimal and modern. You want to balance out a rich lip with more neutral and subtle makeup. So flaunt those bold lips with confidence, put on a red lipstick and live a little!